Hi Claire,

My heart goes out to you, I understand how you feel and of course it’s the worst time of year to be going through this kind of anxiety when all around people are in the mood for celebration. 
The chances are it’s not anal cancer and if it is the earlier it’s found the better, so your GP is fast tracking you.

im almost 4 weeks post treatment for anal cancer and doing well. The treatment is highly effective and in most cases curable. Of course no one wants to go on this journey and I know how shocking it is to discover cancer- but you don’t know. So hold on to this and try to enjoy Christmas. Anal cancer is very rare so it’s much more likely to be something less worrying.

If it is there is an anal cancer forum . You will get lots of support and brilliant tips for dealing with treatment etc.

Hopefully you will hear good news soon so don’t let it ruin your Christmas..

Big hugs

Happyflower x

Hello Claire and thank you for posting,

Waiting for tests and test results is always an anxious and uncertain time and many people can feel they are not in control of what is happening to them. You have done the right thing by getting yourself checked and as happyflower has said it doesn't mean the symptoms you are having have necessarily been caused by cancer.

Easier said than done, if you can, try not to overthink things and take one step at a time.

I hope you have family and friends that you can lean on during this time and that you get an appointment very soon.

If you would like to talk things through with one of our nurses on the helpline, we are here until 5pm today and then will return on Friday 27th December. The freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040.

Take care

Jemma

Hi Happyflower,

Thank you ever so much for your reply, I do appreciate. I'm sorry I'm only just responding. I work in retail and was in work yesterday and today, it's been chaos. 

I just have a horrible feeling about this and that it is anal cancer, or another form of cancer, plus the reaction from the GP really scared me and on top of all of that, my maternal grandmother had bowel cancer in her later years. You're right, it's very difficult trying to be cheery in front of others when inside, all I feel is fear and being absolutely petrified whilst being in limbo. I just don't see what else it could be. The growth/mass is sore to the touch and I have a constant burning sensation. I had a text today to say that the colorectal department triage team will be looking at my referral on the 27th, so hopefully I will hear something from them fairly soon after. 

I'm so glad to hear you're doing so well 4 weeks on. I hope you can enjoy Christmas  

Thank you again, so much. 

Claire xx

Hello Jemma,

Thank you for your reply. 

I'm annoyed with myself for waiting a week to see if the hemorrhoid ointment worked (when I thought it was an external thrombosed hemorrhoid again, which I had earlier in the year), I keep thinking, "If I'd contacted the GP a week earlier, I'd be further on with it all right now". I just don't feel I will be able to enjoy Christmas at all because it will be constantly on my mind. 

My husband is amazing and always a massive support to me with everything. I'm such an anxious person at the best of times but when it comes to anything like this, I'm a nervous wreck. I don't want to be telling friends about it because they're all off with their families for Christmas so I don't want to ruin their time by dropping this on them. 

I would have phoned the nurses helpline today, most definitely but I was working until 6pm unfortunately so missed it. I'm also working on the 27th so probably won't be able to call then either. I did receive a text today, to let me know that the Colorectal triage team will be reviewing my referral on the 27th so I desperately hope I get an appointment not too long after that. I worry massively that due to the bank holidays over these next couple of weeks, it will mean my appointment is delayed and if this is cancer, it will have time to grow even more. 

Thank you again, 

Claire.

Hi Jemma, 

Thank you for your reply. 

I was amazed that I received a phone call from UCLH on Christmas Eve, offering me an appointment on New Year's Eve, which I've taken. The person I spoke to said they didn't want to delay seeing me, which has scared me massively. The appointment is in person and I have no idea what to expect from it. 

It's been an awful Christmas, I've spent the majority of the time looking online (I know I shouldn't do) and reading about Anal Cancer, the treatment for it, possibility of a permanent colostomy bag and much more. I'm petrified. I wish I could phone and chat with a nurse today but I'm in work. It's our son's birthday tomorrow (his girlfriend is joining us) and I need to try and be happy for that but I don't see how I can be. 

Are you able to give me any idea as to what might happen at my first appointment please? I'm so scared about having Anal Cancer because I know it's a rare type and the side effects people seem to suffer with from the radiotherapy sounds awful. 

I'm such an anxious person anyway but this is the most scared I've ever been. The discomfort/aching and burning I have is awful and I know that even after the appointment on Tuesday, I will still have that discomfort because there isn't anything I can be given to take that away. 

Thank you for your support and replies. My parents are coming to stay with us on the 30th so I might not get a chance to call the helpline until early in the new year unfortunately. 

Claire 

Hello Claire and thank you for your post,

I am sorry to hear about the symptoms you are having and the concern you might have cancer. But please remember that the symptoms of cancer are also the same symptoms that cause many types of non-cancer conditions.

The appointment may seem a little bit more urgent as it is on New Year's Eve, but that is a normal working day across the NHS, it is not a Bank Holiday. Also, it is good to hear you are not waiting too long to be seen.

At the appointment after the doctor and you have spoken it is likely that they will want to examine you. They may wish to carry out scans but I am not sure if you need to have them that they will be carried out on the same day. The doctor will decide what needs to be done when they see you. Also, mention the pain as they hopefully can prescribe something for it. 

It might be good to have someone with you especially if you are worried. As having another pair of ears listening to what is said can help.

Take care

Caroline